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satellites - 3 dictionary results

sat⋅el⋅lite

[sat-l-ahyt]
–noun
1. Astronomy. a natural body that revolves around a planet; a moon.
2. a country under the domination or influence of another.
3. something, as a branch office or an off-campus facility of a university, that depends on, accompanies, or serves something else.
4. an attendant or follower of another person, often subservient or obsequious in manner.
5. a device designed to be launched into orbit around the earth, another planet, the sun, etc.
–adjective
6. of, pertaining to, or constituting a satellite: the nation's new satellite program.
7. subordinate to another authority, outside power, or the like: summoned to a conference of satellite nations.

Origin:
1540–50; 1955–60 for def. 2; < L satellit- (s. of satelles) attendant, member of bodyguard or retinue


sat⋅el⋅lit⋅ed, adjective


4. follower, supporter, companion, associate; lackey, parasite, sycophant, toady, flunky.
sat·el·lite   (sāt'l-īt')   
n.  
  1. Astronomy A celestial body that orbits a planet; a moon.
  2. Aerospace An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body.
  3. A nation dominated politically and economically by another nation.
  4. An urban or suburban community located near a big city.
    1. One who attends a powerful dignitary; a subordinate.
    2. A subservient follower; a sycophant.
  5. Genetics A short segment of a chromosome separated from the rest by a constriction, typically associated with the formation of a nucleolus.
  6. Microbiology A colony of microorganisms whose growth in culture medium is enhanced by certain substances produced by another colony in its proximity.

[French, hanger-on, hireling, from Old French, from Latin satelles, satellit-.]
satellite   (sāt'l-īt')  Pronunciation Key 


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  1. A small body in orbit around a larger body. See Note at moon.
  2. An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body. Satellites are used for research, communications, weather information, and navigation. The first artificial Earth satellite was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union in October 1957; the first successful American satellite was launched in January 1958.

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